P106: Does training with a modified high-fidelity manikin improve junior residents’ ability to establish transcutaneous pacing in an advanced cardiovascular life support course?

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
pp. S114
Author(s):  
C. Ranger ◽  
M. Paradis ◽  
J. Morris ◽  
R. Perron ◽  
A. Cournoyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Control Group ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Traditional Curriculum ◽  
Key Features ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Junior Residents

Introduction: Transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP), a skill taught in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) courses, is recommended to treat unstable bradycardia. Training manikins currently available fail to reproduce key features of TCP and might be suboptimal to teach this procedure.The objective of this study was to measure the impact of a modified high-fidelity manikin on junior residents’ TCP competency during an ACLS course. We hypothesized that the use of this high-fidelity manikin improves junior residents’ performances. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at the Université de Montréal in July 2015 and 2016. First-year residents undergoing their mandatory ACLS course were enrolled. The control group (2015) received the traditional curriculum, which includes hands-on teaching on Advanced Life Support manikins. The intervention group (2016) received a similar curriculum, but used a modified high-fidelity manikin that reproduces key features of TCP (e.g. use of multifunction pads, TCP induced patient twitching, ECG artifacts). Cohorts were tested with a simulation scenario requiring TCP. Performances were graded based on six critical tasks: turns on pacer function, applies multifunction pads, recognizes TCP is ineffective, achieves captures, verifies mechanical capture and prescribes sedation. Our primary outcome was successful use of TCP defined as having completed all tasks. Secondary outcomes were the success rates for each task. These were compared using Pearson’s chi-squared test. We anticipated that the success rate of TCP would increase from 20% to 50%. To obtain a power of more than 90%, 48 participants were needed in both cohorts. Results: A total of 50 residents were recruited in both cohorts. No resident that received the traditional curriculum was able to successfully establish TCP while 18 residents trained on the modified high-fidelity manikin succeeded (0 vs 36%, P<0.001). Furthermore, the latter were more likely to recognize when pacing was inefficient (12 vs 86%, P<0.001), obtain ventricular capture (2 vs 48%, P<0.001), and check for a pulse rate to confirm capture (0 vs 48%, P<0.001). Conclusion: Successful use of TCP is a difficult skill to master for junior residents. A modified high-fidelity manikin during ACLS training significantly improves their ability to establish effective pacing.

scholarly journals P017: Impact of the use of a checklist for transcutaneous cardiac pacing on competency of junior residents undergoing an advanced cardiac life support course

CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S69
Author(s):  
K. Chabot ◽  
J. Morris ◽  
R. Perron ◽  
C. Ranger ◽  
M. Paradis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Cardiac Pacing ◽  
Advanced Cardiac Life Support ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Size Estimation ◽  
Symptomatic Bradycardia ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Junior Residents ◽  
Experimental Group

Introduction: Transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP) is recommended for the treatment of symptomatic bradycardia, a life-threatening condition. Although TCP is taught in ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) courses, it is a difficult skill to master for junior residents. The main objective of this study is to measure the impact of having access to a checklist on successful TCP implementation. Our hypothesis was that the availability of a CL would improve performance of junior residents in the management of symptomatic bradycardia by facilitating TCP. Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, single-site study. First-year residents entering postgraduate programs and taking a mandatory ACLS course were enrolled. Students had didactic sessions on the management of symptomatic bradycardia followed by hands-on teaching on a low-fidelity manikin (ALS® simulator, Laerdal) using a CL conceived for this project as a teaching tool. Study participants were then assessed with a simulation scenario requiring TCP. Participants were randomly assigned to groups with and without CL accessibility. Performances were graded on six critical tasks. The primary outcome was the successful use of TCP, defined as having completed all tasks. Participants then completed a post-test questionnaire. Sample size estimation was based on a previous project (Ranger et al., 2018). Accepting an alpha error of 0.05 and a power of 80%, 45 participants in each group would permit the detection of 26.5% in performance gain. Results: Of 250 residents completing the ACLS course in 2017, 85 voluntary participants were randomized to a control group (no CL available during testing, n = 42) or an experimental group (CL available during testing, n = 43). Six participants in the experimental group adequately used TCP compared to five participants in the control group (p = 0.81, chi-squared test). Out of the 43 participants who had access to the CL, only 2 (5%) used it. Reasons why the CL was infrequently used were stated as the following: 24 participants (56%) mentioned not realizing it was available, 8 (19%) considered it was of little to no utility and 5 (19%) forgot a CL existed. Conclusion: Availability of a checklist previously used during simulation teaching did not increase junior residents’ capacity to correctly apply TCP. Non-recognition of CL availability and decreased perceived need for it were the main reasons for marginal use. Our results suggest that there are many limiting factors to CL effectiveness.

Sudden cardiac arrest pharmacotherapy with prefilled syringes improves adherence to Advanced Life Support protocol in understaffed resuscitation pre-hospital care teams

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Simulation Study ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Sudden Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Performance Quality ◽  
Prefilled Syringes ◽  
The Impact

Every procedural facilitation or a change in available equipment in treatment of out-of-hospital arrest (OHCA) by two-person teams may significantly enhance their performance quality. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of adrenaline in prefilled syringes on improving the adherence to Advanced Life Support protocol by understaffed teams. The research was based on a randomized cross-over high-fidelity simulation study. Two-person teams took part in two 10-minute simulation scenarios featuring sudden cardiac arrest in ventricular fibrillation (VF). The control group (group C) had at its disposal standard ampoules, whereas the experimental group (group E) prefilled syringes. The execution times of CPR start, defibrillation shocks, intravenous (IV) access, epinephrine and amiodarone doses were measured. Additionally, the chest compression fraction (CCF) was calculated. The designed two-minute loops were considerably prolonged in group C. Nineteen teams (31.1%) in group C but 49 (80.3%) in group E carried out the fifth defibrillation (P < 0.001). After two minutes of CPR nobody in group C switched to perform chest compressions. IV access was obtained significantly earlier in group E (114.7 ± 52.2 sec) than in group C (150.2 ± 68.6 sec)(P = 0.002). Two doses of adrenaline were administered in group E, whereas its second dose only by 12 teams in group C. The simulation study has proved that for understaffed teams a use of prefilled syringes not only did enhance the flow of ALS procedure, but it also improved the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

scholarly journals Time for Reflection: The Balance between Repetition and Feedback in Resuscitation Training—A Randomised Controlled Trial

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Kristian Krogh ◽  
Morten Pilegaard ◽  
Berit Eika
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Retention Test ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Resuscitation Training ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Background. The simulation literature widely agrees that the reflective learning phase after the simulation is equal to or perhaps of even greater importance than the actual simulated scenario in ensuring learning. Nevertheless, advanced life support (ALS) tends to have many simulated scenarios followed by short feedback sessions. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of two groups of novice learners to stay adherent to the ALS guidelines in their provision of ALS after they had received either 8 or 12 simulated resuscitation scenarios, both in 4 hours. Methods. This study was a randomised controlled trial. Participants were either randomised to the control group with 12 scenarios (15 minutes per scenario) with 5 minutes of feedback or the intervention group with 8 simulations (15 minutes per scenario) with 15 minutes of feedback. Results. There was no statistically significant difference in test scores between the intervention group and control group in the 1-week retention test (p=0.59) and the 12-week retention test (p=0.43).  Conclusion. This study suggests that the lower number of repetitive ALS simulation scenarios does not diminish learning when the feedback is equally prolonged to ensure sufficient time for reflection.

scholarly journals Efektivitas low fidelity simulation terhadap self-efficacy mahasiswa keperawatan dalam melakukan bantuan hidup dasar

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 590-595
Author(s):  
Hudzaifah Al Fatih ◽  
Lena Rahmidar
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Basic Life Support ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Simulation Method ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
Learning Method

Effectiveness of low fidelity simulation toward nursing students’ self-efficacy in doing basic life support Background: The use of simulation as learning method has proven to improved student’s self-efficacy and competency. Various simulators has been developed to achieve these objectives, ranging from low, medium, to high-fidelity simulators. Among others, low-fidelity simulator has the lowest cost with the same effectiveness as other simulators.Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of low-fidelity simulation in increasing nursing students’ self-efficacy in performing Basic Life Support (BLS) skill.Method: A quasi-experimental method with non-equivalent pretest - posttest design was used to answer research questions. One chest manikin for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was used as a low-fidelity simulator in practicing BLS skill. 47 students were recruited as respondents using a purposive sampling method with students who undergoing emergency nursing course and agreed to participate in the study as inclusions criteria. Furthermore, without randomization, 23 respondents were included in the control group and 24 respondents in the intervention group. The effect of low fidelity simulation on students' self-efficacy was measured using the Basic Resuscitation Scale Self-Efficacy Scale (BRS-SES) questionnaire consisting of 18 items with responses option ranging from 1 = not confident, 2 = somewhat confident, 3 = confident, 4 = very confident, and 5 = very very confident. Questionnaire were given to respondents before and after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).Results: The mean score of students’ self-efficacy before intervention was 38.89 (SD = 10.149), and after intervention was 47.17 (SD = 13.099). There was no significant difference in self-efficacy mean score between the control group and the intervention group (F = 0.625, p> 0.05). So, it can be concluded that the use of low-fidelity simulation method did not have a significant effect in increasing nursing students’ self-efficacy.Conclusions: Although the use of low-fidelity simulation method does not have a significant effect in increasing nursing students’ self-efficacy, this method can be used as an effective learning method to improve nursing students’ skills and competencies.Keywords: Low fidelity simulation; Nursing student; Self-efficacy; Simulation.Pendahuluan: Penggunaan simulasi sebagai metode pengajaran dapat meningkatkan self-efficacy dan performa kompetensi siswa perawat. Beragam simulator dikembangkan untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut, mulai dari low, medium, hingga high-fidelity simulator.Diantara ketiganya, low-fidelity simulator merupakan simulator yang paling rendah dari segi pembiayaan, namun secara efektivitas sama dengan simulator lainnya.Tujuan: Mengetahui efektivitas metode low-fidelity simulation terhadap self-efficacy mahasiswa keperawatan dalam melakukan keterampilan Bantuan Hidup Dasar (BHD).Metode: Quasi eksperimen dengan non-equivalent pretest -posttest design digunakan untuk menjawab pertanyaan penelitian. Satu manikin dada untuk Resusitasi Jantung Paru (RJP) digunakan sebagai low fidelity simulator dalam pelaksanaan simulasi BHD. 47 mahasiswa direkrut sebagai responden menggunakan metode purposive sampling dengan kriteria inklusi mahasiswa yang sedang mengikuti mata kuliah keperawatan gawat darurat dan setuju untuk berpartisipasi dalam penelitian. Selanjutnya, tanpa randomisasi, 23 responden dimasukkan dalam grup kontrol dan 24 responden dalam grup intervensi. Pengaruh low fidelity simulation terhadap self-efficacy mahasiswa diukur menggunakan kuisioner Basic Resuscitation Skills Self-Efficacy Scale (BRS-SES) yang terdiri dari 18 butir pernyataan dengan rentang jawaban 1 = tidak percaya diri, 2 = agak percaya diri, 3 = percaya diri, 4 = sangat percaya diri, dan 5 = sangat sangat percaya diri. Kuisioner diberikan kepada responden sebelum dan sesudah intervensi. Data yang terkumpul selanjutnya dianalisis menggunakan Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).Hasil: Mean skor self-efficacy mahasiswa keperawatan sebelum intervensi adalah 38.89 (SD=10.149), dan setelah intervensi adalah 47.17 (SD=13.099). Tidak terdapat perbedaan mean yang signifikan antara skor self-efficacy kelompok kontrol dan kelompok intervensi (F= 0.625, p>0.05). Dapat disimpulkan bahwa penggunaan metode low fidelity simulation tidak memiliki pengaruh signifikan terhadap peningkatan self-efficacy mahasiswa keperawatan.Simpulan: Meskipun penggunaan metode low fidelity simulation tidak memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap peningkatan self-efficacy mahasiswa keperawatan, namun metode ini dapat digunakan sebagai metode pembelajaran yang efektif untuk meningkatkan keterampilan dan kompetensi mahasiswa keperawatan. 

The effect of the implementation of a good medical practice booklet on nursing home residents’ drug prescriptions: a difference-in-differences analysis based on data from electronic pill dispensers (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Sanchez ◽  
Cécile Payet ◽  
Marie Herr ◽  
Anne Dazinieras ◽  
Caroline Blochet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Medical Practice ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Good Medical Practice ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The elderly are particularly exposed to adverse events from medication. Among the various strategies to reduce polypharmacy, educational approaches have shown promising results. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the impact of the implementation of a good medical practice booklet on polypharmacy in nursing homes. METHODS We identified nursing homes belonging to a geriatric care provider that had launched a policy of proper medication use using a good medical practice booklet delivered to prescribers and pharmacists. Data were derived from electronic pill dispensers. The effect of the intervention on polypharmacy was assessed with multilevel regression models, with a control group to account for natural trends over time. The main outcomes were the average daily number of times when medication was administered and the number of drugs with different presentation identifier codes per resident per month. RESULTS 96,216 residents from 519 nursing homes were included between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2014. The intervention group and the control group both decreased their average daily use of medication (-0.05 and -0.06). The good medical practice booklet did not have a statistically significant effect (exponentiated difference-in-differences coefficient 1.00, 95% confidence interval 0.99-1.02, P=.45). CONCLUSIONS Although the good medical practice booklet itself did not seem effective in decreasing medication use, our data show the effectiveness of a higher-level policy to decrease polypharmacy.

MHealth Applications for People with Cognitive Impairment and Their Caregivers: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Zhao ◽  
Pei Chen ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Haining Liu ◽  
Xianwen Li
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Caregiver Support ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Mobile health application has become an important tool for healthcare systems. One such tool is the delivery of assisting in people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. OBJECTIVE This scoping review aims to explore and evaluate the existing evidence and challenges on the use of mHealth applications that assisting in people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. METHODS Nine databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsycARTICLES, CINAHL, Web of Science, Applied Science & Technology Source, IEEE Xplore and the ACM Digital Library were searched from inception through June 2020 for the studies of mHealth applications on people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. Two reviewers independently extracted, checked synthesized data independently. RESULTS Of the 6101 studies retrieved, 64 studies met the inclusion criteria. Three categories emerged from this scoping review. These categories are ‘application functionality’, ‘evaluation strategies’, ‘barriers and challenges’. All the included studies were categorized into 7 groups based on functionality: (1) cognitive assessment; (2) cognitive training; (3) life support; (4) caregiver support; (5) symptom management; (6) reminiscence therapy; (7) exercise intervention. The included studies were broadly categorized into four types: (1) Usability testing; (2) Pilot and feasibility studies; (3) Validation studies; and (4) Efficacy or Effectiveness design. These studies had many defects in research design such as: (1) small sample size; (2) deficiency in active control group; (3) deficiency in analyzing the effectiveness of intervention components; (4) lack of adverse reactions and economic evaluation; (5) lack of consideration about the education level, electronic health literacy and smartphone proficiency of the participants; (6) deficiency in assessment tool; (7) lack of rating the quality of mHealth application. Some progress should be improved in the design of smartphone application functionality, such as: (1) the design of cognitive measurements and training game need to be differentiated; (2) reduce the impact of the learning effect. Besides this, few studies used health behavior theory and performed with standardized reporting. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary results show that mobile technologies facilitate the assistance in people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. The majority of mHealth application interventions incorporated usability outcome and health outcomes. However, these studies have many defects in research design that limit the extrapolation of research. The content of mHealth application is urgently improved to adapt to demonstrate the real effect. In addition, further research with strong methodological rigor and adequate sample size are needed to examine the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of mHealth applications for people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers.

scholarly journals The Effect of Javanese Language Videos with a Community Based Interactive Approach Method as an Educational Instrument for Knowledge, Perception, and Adherence amongst Tuberculosis Patients

Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Fauna Herawati ◽  
Yuni Megawati ◽  
Aslichah ◽  
Retnosari Andrajati ◽  
Rika Yulia
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Group ◽  
Personal Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
Interactive Approach ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Tuberculosis Patients ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
The Impact

The long period of tuberculosis treatment causes patients to have a high risk of forgetting or stopping the medication altogether, which increases the risk of oral anti-tuberculosis drug resistance. The patient’s knowledge and perception of the disease affect the patient’s adherence to treatment. This research objective was to determine the impact of educational videos in the local language on the level of knowledge, perception, and adherence of tuberculosis patients in the Regional General Hospital (RSUD) Bangil. This quasi-experimental study design with a one-month follow-up allocated 62 respondents in the intervention group and 60 in the control group. The pre- and post-experiment levels of knowledge and perception were measured with a validated set of questions. Adherence was measured by pill counts. The results showed that the intervention increases the level of knowledge of the intervention group higher than that of the control group (p-value < 0.05) and remained high after one month of follow-up. The perceptions domains that changed after education using Javanese (Ngoko) language videos with the Community Based Interactive Approach (CBIA) method were the timeline, personal control, illness coherence, and emotional representations (p-value < 0.05). More than 95% of respondents in the intervention group take 95% of their pill compared to 58% of respondents in the control group (p-value < 0.05). Utilization of the local languages for design a community-based interactive approach to educate and communicate is important and effective.

Investigating the Impact of Cognitive Training for Individuals With Bothersome Tinnitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982199474
Author(s):  
Maggie Xing ◽  
Dorina Kallogjeri ◽  
Jay F. Piccirillo
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Functional Index ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive training in improving tinnitus bother and to identify predictors of patient response. Study Design Prospective open-label randomized controlled trial. Setting Online. Methods Participants were adults with subjective idiopathic nonpulsatile tinnitus causing significant tinnitus-related distress. The intervention group trained by using auditory-intensive exercises for 20 minutes per day, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks. The active control group trained on the same schedule with non–auditory intensive games. Surveys were completed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. Results A total of 64 participants completed the study. The median age was 63 years (range, 25-69) in the intervention group and 61 years (34-68) in the control group. Mixed model analysis revealed that within-subject change in Tinnitus Functional Index in the intervention group was not different than the control group, with marginal mean differences (95% CI): 0.24 (–11.20 to 10.7) and 2.17 (–8.50 to 12.83) at 8 weeks and 2.33 (–8.6 to 13.3) and 3.36 (–7.91 to 14.6) at 12 weeks, respectively. When the 2 study groups were compared, the control group had higher Tinnitus Functional Index scores than the intervention group by 10.5 points at baseline (95% CI, –0.92 to 29.89), 8.1 at 8 weeks (95% CI, –3.27 to 19.42), and 9.4 at 12 weeks (95% CI, –2.45 to 21.34). Conclusion Auditory-intensive cognitive training was not associated with changes in self-reported tinnitus bother. Given the potential for neuroplasticity to affect tinnitus, we believe that future studies on cognitive training for tinnitus remain relevant.

scholarly journals Assessment of the impact of an opioid-specific education series on rates of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in veterans

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Kirby ◽  
Robert Connell ◽  
Travis Linneman
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Motivation To Change ◽  
Heroin Use ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose The impact of a focused inpatient educational intervention on rates of medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for veterans with opioid use disorder (OUD) was evaluated. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis compared rates of MAT, along with rates of OUD-related emergency department (ED) visits and/or hospital admission within 1 year, between veterans with a diagnosis of OUD who completed inpatient rehabilitation prior to implementation of a series of group sessions designed to engage intrinsic motivation to change behavior surrounding opioid abuse and provide education about MAT (the control group) and those who completed rehabilitation after implementation of the education program (the intervention group). A post hoc, multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate possible predictors of MAT use and ED and/or hospital readmission, including completion of the opioid series, gender, age (&gt;45 years), race, and specific prior substance(s) of abuse. Results One hundred fifty-eight patients were included: 95 in the control group and 63 in the intervention group. Rates of MAT were 25% (24 of 95 veterans) and 75% (47 of 63 veterans) in control and intervention groups, respectively (P &lt; 0.01). Gender, completion of the opioid series, prior heroin use, and marijuana use met prespecified significance criteria for inclusion in multivariate regression modeling of association with MAT utilization, with participation in the opioid series (odds ratio [OR], 9.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.36-20.96) and prior heroin use (OR, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.18-9.01) found to be significant predictors of MAT utilization on multivariate analysis. Opioid series participation and MAT use were independently associated with decreased rates of OUD-related ED visits and/or hospital admission (hazard ratios of 0.16 [95% CI, 0.06-0.44] and 0.32 [95% CI, 0.14-0.77], respectively) within 1 year after rehabilitation completion. Conclusion Focused OUD-related education in a substance abuse program for veterans with OUD increased rates of MAT and was associated with a decrease in OUD-related ED visits and/or hospital admission within 1 year.

scholarly journals Community Health Workers as a Strategy to Tackle Psychosocial Suffering Due to Physical Distancing: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3097
Author(s):  
Dorien Vanden Bossche ◽  
Susan Lagaert ◽  
Sara Willems ◽  
Peter Decat
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many primary care professionals were overburdened and experienced difficulties reaching vulnerable patients and meeting the increased need for psychosocial support. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) tested whether a primary healthcare (PHC) based community health worker (CHW) intervention could tackle psychosocial suffering due to physical distancing measures in patients with limited social networks. Methods: CHWs provided 8 weeks of tailored psychosocial support to the intervention group. Control group patients received ‘care as usual’. The impact on feelings of emotional support, social isolation, social participation, anxiety and fear of COVID-19 were measured longitudinally using a face-to-face survey to determine their mean change from baseline. Self-rated change in psychosocial health at 8 weeks was determined. Results: We failed to find a significant effect of the intervention on the prespecified psychosocial health measures. However, the intervention did lead to significant improvement in self-rated change in psychosocial health. Conclusions: This study confirms partially the existing evidence on the effectiveness of CHW interventions as a strategy to address mental health in PHC in a COVID context. Further research is needed to elaborate the implementation of CHWs in PHC to reach vulnerable populations during and after health crises.

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